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Lima, the capital of Peru, is a city where history, culture, and modernity converge. Founded by Francisco Pizarro in 1535, Lima offers a wealth of experiences for history enthusiasts, culture aficionados, and travelers seeking to explore the vibrant heart of Peru. This comprehensive guide delves into the top attractions and excursions in Lima, providing detailed insights to help you uncover the many wonders of this captivating city.
To book your Lima tours now or consult with us, fill out the “Contact Us” form and a Fertur Peru Travel coordinator will contact you within one working day with detailed information about your fully customizable trip.
Fertur Peru Travel’s pledge is to offer you top-quality, individualized attention that starts with the planning of your trip and continues through your journey to guarantee a great vacation.
Lima, the capital of Peru, is a city where history, culture, and modernity converge. Founded by Francisco Pizarro in 1535, Lima offers a wealth of experiences for history enthusiasts, culture aficionados, and travelers seeking to explore the vibrant heart of Peru. This comprehensive guide delves into the top attractions and excursions in Lima, providing detailed insights to help you uncover the many wonders of this captivating city.
The Plaza Mayor, the site of Lima’s founding by Francisco Pizarro, has witnessed some of the most important historic events in Peru. Small shops and businesses originally surrounded the Plaza Mayor.
More than a century later, a bronze fountain was built in the center in 1651, and it still stands today. It was in this plaza that Peruvians declared their independence in 1821.
The Presidential Palace sits on the northern side of the square, while the Cathedral and Archbishop’s Palace are on the east side, and the City Hall is located to the west.
Built in 1625 in Baroque Renaissance style and rebuilt after an earthquake in 1940, Lima Cathedral is a veritable work of colonial art. While its facade is somewhat austere, the Cathedral houses magnificent Churriguerra altars, beautifully carved wooden choir stalls, and gold-leaf altars. Additionally, it boasts a unique collection of oil paintings and sculptures from the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries.
The Iglesia de San Francisco is a striking complex consisting of a church, the convent of San Francisco, and the chapels of El Milagro and La Soledad. Built in the seventeenth century, the complex’s cloisters and patios are decorated with blue Sevillian tiles. There is also a well-stocked library, the Religious Art Museum, and the Zurbarán Room. The church is built on top of a network of underground tunnels, or catacombs, which were used as a cemetery during colonial times, and today are open to the general public.
Miraflores is Lima’s foremost tourist and hotel district. It features spacious modern shopping areas, parks, and gardens. The district also hosts many cultural events at theaters, cinemas, and art galleries. It boasts a pre-Inca mud-brick temple called the Huaca Pucllana, one of many archaeological sites still found in Lima. Miraflores teems with cozy cafes, pubs, restaurants, and shops. Its freshly remodeled parks and gardens attract thousands of Lima inhabitants every Sunday who congregate to visit art exhibitions, take in open-air concerts, and browse through flea markets.
San Isidro is Lima’s “garden” district, standing out for its green zones and exclusive residential areas. San Isidro also features many of the city’s finest restaurants, hotels, and concert halls. Despite the building boom, San Isidro has retained its aristocratic atmosphere from the beginning of the last century. This is clearly seen in the area of El Olivar, a centuries-old olive grove that evolved into a popular park built around ornate upscale homes. In recent years, the district has become a major financial quarter as many banks and businesses moved from downtown Lima to set up headquarters in modern high-rise office buildings. The district features a pre-Hispanic temple, Huallamarca, where concerts and exhibitions are occasionally held.
Located 19 miles (30 km) south of Lima along the Pan-American Highway, Pachacamac is an ancient temple rearing over the fertile Lurín valley.
A sprawling ceremonial center of 18 mud-brick pyramids with ramps and plazas, Pachacamac was ruled by the Ychsma lords from 900 A.D. to 1470. The Inca Empire conquered the religious center less than a century before Spanish Conquistador Francisco Pizarro’s brother, Hernando, plundered the site in 1533 and destroyed the idol that served as an oracle.
The Inca section (1440-1533) is the best-preserved part of the archaeological complex. The site includes palaces, plazas, and temples that have been painstakingly restored, and even includes an on-site museum that houses an interesting collection of pre-Hispanic relics.
Archaeologists began exploring Pachacamac in the 1890s but found much of the nearly 1,500-acre (600 ha) ruins already looted, and quickly ran out of intact tombs to explore. But not all of Pachacamac’s historical treasures had been sacked. In 2005, archaeologist Peter Eeckhout of the Free University of Brussels excavated 69 tombs and funerary bundles, including some containing whole families. Others held the mummified remains of pilgrims who presumably sought cures from the oracle deity for diseases like syphilis, tuberculosis, and cancer.
A lovely, sunny valley south of Lima, Lunahuaná is a perfect spot for adventure sports and culinary delights. The area is known for its river shrimp dishes, exquisite wines, and pisco brandies. Nearby, the ruins of the ancient Inca Wasi (House of the Inca) archaeological site offer a glimpse into the region’s historical significance.
North of Lima lies the arid Supe Valley, home to the Caral archaeological complex.
This city, dating back 5,000 years, is considered one of the oldest in the Americas and a peer to great civilizations such as Egypt, China, and Mesopotamia.
Caral’s architectural complexity, with its pyramids and musical instruments unearthed by archaeologists, speaks of a highly developed society.
Encompassing the upper Cañete River Valley, this reserve is a paradise for nature lovers. The area is filled with waterfalls, enchanting lagoons, and abundant wildlife. Visitors can also explore the small villages of Huancaya and Vilca, known for their colonial-era bridges.
Celebrated on January 18th, this event commemorates the founding of the Spanish city of Lima with live music, parades, and popular art fairs.
Held in the second week of March, this festival allows visitors to taste wine and pisco brandy and participate in their preparation at various wineries in the district of Santiago de Surco.
The 1st Saturday every February, Peru’s iconic cocktail takes center stage at bars and restaurants throughout Lima.
From April 20th to 28th, the best Peruvian Paso horse breeders gather at the Mamacona Hacienda in Lurín for this prestigious event.
Held during the last two weeks of July, this fair brings together Peruvian and international writers, offering a space crammed with books and literary activities.
In August, this international film festival showcases Latin-American films, allowing visitors to watch, vote, and meet filmmakers from around the world.
In October, the image of the Lord of Miracles is carried in massive processions through the streets of downtown Lima. It is the most attended religious procession in Peru and one of the most significant in the world.
Celebrated on October 31st, this day honors Peru’s traditional coastal music with concerts in bars, restaurants, and plazas throughout Lima.
Prices starting from $399 per person
Prices starting from $510 per person
Prices starting from $194 per person with Private guide
Prices starting from $570 per person
To book one of our Lima Tours now or consult with us, fill out the “Contact Us” form to the right and a Fertur Peru Travel coordinator will contact you within one working day with detailed information about your fully customizable trip. Fertur Peru Travel’s pledge is to offer you top-quality, individualized attention that starts with the planning of your trip and continues through your journey to guarantee a great vacation.
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